1990 Lexus ES 250 Reminds Us Of the Early Days
The original ES 250 lived in the LS 400's shadow, but this one deserves our attention.
Proper Throwback
When we reflect back on the early days of Lexus, we typically think of the beloved LS 400 and its bulletproof drivetrain, silky-smooth driving experience, and opulent luxury. That model quite simply changed the automotive world forever, but it wasn't alone in the automaker's stable. It was joined by the Lexus ES 250, which didn't enjoy quite the same fanfare, though it is a historically notable vehicle. And this one that was recently for sale in the Bay Area on Craigslist has to be one of the nicest 1990 ES 250s left.
Photos: Craigslist
Filling Out
In all fairness, there's a reason most people have forgotten about the first ES 250 - it was essentially just a rebadged Toyota Camry and not a particularly exciting vehicle. But it filled out the automaker's lineup with another, less expensive offering in addition to the range-topping LS and the SC coupe.
Photos: Craigslist
>>Join the conversation about the 1990 ES 250 right here in Club Lexus.
Pristinely Kept
The ES didn't bother trying to hide its Camry roots, with only a few styling changes to differentiate it from the more economy-focused compact sedan. This Burgandy beauty has just 113k original miles and is in fantastic condition, with just a couple of scuff marks on the bumpers upsetting what it otherwise a pristinely kept example.
Photos: Craigslist
>>Join the conversation about the 1990 ES 250 right here in Club Lexus.
Ho Hum Drivetrain
Pop the hood, and you'll find a familiar sight - the same 2.5-liter 2VZ-FE V6 that powers the Camry, offering up just 156 horsepower. However, that was a step up from the Toyota's base four-cylinder, at the very least. It's backed up by a four-speed automatic transmission for a fairly ho-hum yet economical driving experience.
Photos: Craigslist
>>Join the conversation about the 1990 ES 250 right here in Club Lexus.
Normal Wear
Lexus did take the time to fit the ES 250's interior with some nice leather and woodgrain trim, which helped make it a bit more upscale than the Camry's basic threads. This particular car's cabin is also in pretty excellent condition, with nothing but normal wear showing - mostly on the driver's seat.
Photos: Craigslist
>>Join the conversation about the 1990 ES 250 right here in Club Lexus.
Forgotten Model
Throw in a fairly large trunk and copious amounts of interior space, and the original ES 250's roughly $21k base MSRP seemed like a pretty solid value. Alas, today, the car has largely been forgotten about and you rarely even see them pop up for sale, especially in this kind of condition.
Photos: Craigslist
>>Join the conversation about the 1990 ES 250 right here in Club Lexus.
Family Connection
The ES 250 was basically just a stopgap solution until Lexus could properly engineer more models for its new lineup, and lasted just two model years before the second-gen ES debuted in 1992. The new model was different enough from the Camry (and continues to be) that most don't even know the two share a lot in common. But when we look back at this old-timer, that family connection is quite evident.
Photos: Craigslist
>>Join the conversation about the 1990 ES 250 right here in Club Lexus.
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